Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 5

Written Answers. - Respiratory Diseases.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

113 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason Ireland has the highest rates of respiratory disease in the world; the steps he intends to take to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27593/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The issue normally referred to in the context of the high incidence of respiratory illness in Ireland is the high prevalence of asthma here. This was confirmed in a study of asthma in Ireland conducted by Allen and Hanburys in conjunction with the Asthma Society of Ireland in 2001. This research extended a previous study carried out in seven European countries in 1999, which confirmed that there are variations in asthma prevalence among EU countries. Certain environmental issues such as smoking and workplace exposure to respiratory irritants are contributory factors in this respect, as is the fact that better diagnostic techniques are being used which identify asthma sufferers to a greater degree than before.

A number of recommendations were made as a result of the study. Some of them relate to the implementation of best practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. Particular emphasis is given to the education of patients and the development of shared care programmes of treatment between hospital and primary care services. My Department has contacted the Health Research Board to discuss the commencement of research into the incidence of asthma in the Irish population. I have recently met interested parties to discuss the establishment of an asthma register in the ERHA area, initially on a pilot basis.

The detrimental effects of smoking should be considered in any discussion of respiratory illness. Acute and chronic bronchitis and emphysema are common in this country. Mortality from lung cancer, which has many serious respiratory complications, is higher here than in any other EU member state. These illnesses are related to tobacco smoking, directly and indirectly through the inhalation of environmental tobacco smoke. My tobacco control initiatives, which include the proposed ban on smoking in the workplace, are directed towards the alleviation of the burden of respiratory illness in our population.